All is Found - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The next week was about the same. I spent most of my time reading old lyrics from my notebook and writing songs. I don't know what it is but now that I have this freedom to write about what I felt over the last year, all I want to do is create music. It's getting to the point now where all this music could be an album.
I also dropped off my old contracts to Lindsey and Jack. I wanted them to look into my royalty rights and if I were to release new music right now how much would the label take from the overall cut. Jack and I actually had a lengthy meeting yesterday and we went over everything section by section. Basically if I release any music right now that isn't approved by the label they would sue me. As for my old music that is already out, I'm only getting a minor cut from the royalty rights. So for now I'm stuck in a holding pattern until the contract gets voided.
While I was with Jack, Lindsey also popped into the office to show me a video she recovered from the club the night Eli and I went out. She got the owner of the club to release the security camera from that night and you can clearly see I'm intoxicated. Lindsey also got footage of the end of the night when I was trying to close out my tab. I vaguely remember asking for the check and having to have Bobby help me sign it. But that's not what the video showed. You can clearly see Bobby signed the bar receipt for me and handed it back to the bartender who looked concerned at what Bobby was doing.
Then the best part of the video was at the end. After Bobby gave over the receipt to the bartender he pulled out a piece of paper from his coat pocket. He folded the paper to make it look skinny like a receipt and pushed it in front of me. That is when I asked him for his help to sign it. That's when I signed the contract. Bobby gave me what I thought was the bar tab only for it to be the signature page of the contract.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I was so angry. I wanted to punch something. I didn't know what to do with myself. Lindsey basically said we had a pretty solid case before she found this video but now it was a slam dunk. I was getting out of my contract and now we just had to wait for the trial date to make it official.
Thea was at work right now but when I left Lindsey and Jacks office I called her to meet somewhere because I needed to get this off my chest. One thing led to another and I was almost yelling in tears to her when she met me back at my house. It took a while for me to calm down and Thea had to leave when she was called away for work. She went back to her normal patrol detail as the news calmed down around my disappearance and Bobbys arrest.
I was on edge all night and before she left I asked Thea to come back over my house last night. There was no way I wanted to be alone. For the past week we haven't seen each other that much. Thea went back to her normal night tours while I've just pretty much been hiding out in my house making music. After getting comfortable with Thea sleeping next to me it made it hard to go back to sleeping alone. I didn't want to push us to fast into something. I still have a lot of issues to work on and I don't want to rush into a relationship and ruin it because I wasn't ready. Thea deserves the world and I want to be the one to give it to her.
My feelings for Thea have only grown. I want to be around her all the time and fall asleep next to her every night. I haven't grown the nerve to ask her out yet though. Right now I kind of want to wait until the contract of officially voided before I'm seen out in public with her. I don't want to have to hide Thea like I've had to hide my past relationship.
My last relationship was weighing heavily on my mind when I fell asleep in Thea's arms last night. But I was shocked when I woke up from a nightmare about her. Sweating, breathing heavy I pushed myself out of Thea's arms and tried to calm down. It's been a long time since I've had a nightmare like that and I thought that they were finally gone. Looks like I'm wrong.
Thea woke up right as I pulled away from her. I didn't know what to say to her but Thea didn't run like I thought she might have.
"Just breath Ashlyn, I'm right here." She said and cupped my cheek to make me focus on  her. Her other hand grabbed my right hand and pressed it up against her chest. I felt her strong and steady heart beat and I was able to calm down.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked as she removed her hand from my cheek.
The early morning sun was starting to try and makes its way through my curtains and illuminated just enough of the room to give Thea a godly glow. Her blonde hair almost created a halo effected again just like the night on the bridge.
"I just release my second album and things were going really great for me. I really started to make some money, my album was on the top of the charts and life was great. At my album release party I met a woman named Gina. The venue had a little outdoor patio in the back and I was getting some air when she asked if I had a lighter for her cigarette. I didn't but she ended up finding hers and we talked while she smoked. We hit it off right away and she made me so happy. It was the happiest I think I ever was. We were in a relationship for almost a year before Bobby found out.
"At that point I was just starting to learn what a complete asshat Bobby could be. So hiding my relationship with Gina gave me some control over my life and I didn't want to run the risk of Bobby finding out. Gina didn't mind hiding our relationship, she came from a conservative family who didn't approve of anything LGBTQ related so for me it was a win-win.
"As our one year anniversary started to get closer I really felt like I could spend the rest of my life with her. I wanted to do something special so I wrote her a song and flew her out to a show. She was waiting in the wings while I was on stage and towards the end I wanted to play the song for her. So I did and I poured my heart out in that song.
"Bobby watched the whole thing and confronted me about it when I saw him the next day. I told him about my relationship and the next day I was being sued by my label for breach of contract. Not only did I have to break things off with Gina but I ended up paying close to 5 million dollars in fines to avoid a complete breach.
"The nightmare was about how Bobby killed Gina when he found out about the relationship. I woke up when I saw her get stabbed."
Thea took everything I said in and didn't interrupt me. She didn't say anything and pulled me into her. I felt her kiss the crown of my head and sighed.
"I would never let anything like that happen." Thea said quietly. It made my heart warm whenever she would hint at the possibility of us being in a relationship.
"Come with me?" I asked and looked up into her eyes.
Thea nodded and followed as I got out of bed. She met me by the door and I took her hand in mine and pulled her down the stairs behind me. We walked towards the alcove in the living room and I sat down on the piano bench. Thea sat next to me as I lifted the key cover and pressed a few keys to judge by ear where I need to start.
Once I found my position I started to play the song, her song. I originally titled it Break In but after that night, I just called it Gina's Song. It always will be for her and what she made me feel during the time we were together. The last time I saw her I gave her the audio file.
Put your lighter in the air and lead me back home
When it's all said and done I'll follow the echoes
I hear you night after night calling out my name
And I find myself running to meet you
I didn't want to escape
From the bricks that I laid down
You are the only one
The only one that sees me
Trusts me and believes me
You are the only one
The only one that knows me
And in the dark you show me
Yeah it's perfectly reckless
Damn, you leave me defenseless
So break in
Break in
You let me fall apart without letting go
Then you pick up the pieces and you make me whole
I didn't want to escape
From the bricks that I laid down
You are the only one
The only one that sees me
Trusts me and believes me
You are the only one
The only one that knows me
And in the dark you show me
Yeah it's perfectly reckless
Damn you leave me defenseless
So break in
And take everything I have
Until there is nothing left
Until it's just your voice in my head
And when the lights come on
You see me as I am
You're still inside me
You are the only one
The only one that sees me
Trusts me and believes me
You are the only one
The only one that knows me
And in the dark you show me
Yeah it's perfectly reckless
Damn you leave me defenseless
So break in
Break in
Put your lighter in the air and lead me back home
After I was done playing I took my hands from the keys and looked at Thea. Her eyes are pooling with tears and I gave her a sad smile.
"Every time you sit down and play something for me, I'm impressed every time." Thea said and wiped away a tear that managed to fall.
"Thank you." I said and closed the key cover.
"Thank you for sharing that with me." Thea said and took my one of my hands in hers.
"You're welcome. It was about time someone knew about her and this song." I said and tapped on the key cover.
"I think you should put it out there when you are able to release music again. People should get to hear you beautiful words Ashlyn." Thea said.
"I'll think about it. Breakfast?" I asked trying to lighten the mood. Thea nodded and we stood from the piano bench.
Cooking breakfast didn't take long and once we were done we landed on the couch curled into each other. A random food network show was playing as I played with Thea's hand that rested on my lap.
"How did you learn to play piano?" Thea asked and looked down at me.
"My mom. When I was little she would always play the piano and whenever she would, I sat next to her and watch mesmerized. It felt like I seeing magic in front of my eyes. How she pressed every key just right to produce this beautiful sound had me hooked. She got me lessons once I showed that much interest in it and I played just piano up until middle school. That when I picked up a guitar for the first time. My music teachers saw the natural talent I had and then showed me how to play bass guitar. But I always found my way back to the piano. I used to tell Asher and Ashley that the piano is my first great love." I said and chuckled at the memory.
"Natural talent hun." Thea said and raised her eyebrow.
"If I remember right my high school music teacher said he's never taught anybody before who could read sheet music and pick up a tune by ear on three separate instruments. I would say I was a big deal in school." I said and brushed some hair off my shoulders.
"Alright big shot." Thea said and laughed.
I just smiled at Thea and laughed with her. We were interrupted with a knock on the door. Thea got up right away and walked to the door to see who it was.
"The movers are here." Thea said.
"Finally!" I got up off the couch and slipped on my boots and a coat before opening the front door.
Thea wasn't at my house for much longer. She had to go to work and I was left to deal with the movers. They were delayed because of bad weather when they reached the east coast. The rest of my day was spent sorting through all of my stuff from my LA apartment.